Electric signal light



Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

, CHARLES EDWARD HODECKER, or rrrrsrrnnn, mnssnonnsmw ELECTRIC SIGNAL LIGHT.

Application filed December 1, 1924....ara1, m..75s,19e. I

This invention. relates to electric signal lights and its object is to provide a safety signal light for use by the drivers of automobiles to diplay a signal to following vehicles at night-when it is desired to stop or turn across the path .of such vehicles. It. is now customaryZto-hold out thehand as a signal on such occasions but atnight this method is not effective." The light is also intended for use by pedestrians walking along country roads at night to warn Vehicle driversof their presence,

Vith the foregoing and other objects in' view the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts to be here-inafter fully described, pointed out in' the appended claims and illustrated in the accent panying drawing which forms a part of this application and in which Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view but with the light in operation.

Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional View through Fig. 4. p

'Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the signal light in elevation. Fig. 5 is a sectional view through a slightly modified form of the device.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, enlarged, of Fig. 3.

Like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views. In Figs. 1 and 2 the signal light is shown strapped to the hand 1 of a driver of a vehicle. When the hand is upon the steering wheel 2 of the vehicle the light does not function but when the hand is opened and the index, or other, finger brought in contact with the light switch the electric circuit is closed and the light lit.-

The light comprises a casing 7, preferably of metal, provided with handles 5 which are engaged by the strap 6 which passes about the drlvers hand to secure the light thereto.

Referring now to Figs. 1: to 4 inclusive the 7 provided by the bat- *tery, said battery comprising theplateslO, 11,

ii ht comprises a metal casing with the lens 8 and lamp 9 fer the. plate 10 constituting the positive plate while the plate 11 constitutes the negative plate. A filling A of suitable absorbent material is held wlthin the casing and'iss'aturated with electrolyte which supplies eledtric'en ergy whencontact-ing with't e positive and negativeplates 10 and 11 respectively a. M

the-easing] we base 12,15? meal; is .secured-;--sa1d base having secured to the inner, faee thereof a- Hat spring 13,0ne end only of sa d spr ng beingfastened to "the baseand .the other end; thereof .being loose so thatit may be forcedupward or away from the base through. aperforation formed in theinsulation 14 for contact; with the battery plate 11. A switch 15 is secured by pins 16 to the outside of the base 12 and is provided with a contact piece 17 that extends into a perforation 18' in the said base 12 for-engagement with the free end of the spring 18.

The'switch, 15 extends beyond the base 12 and at its free endis provided with a rub 'ber pad 19 adapted for engagement by the drivers index finger as slown in Fig. 2 to closethe electric circuit and light the lamp. When the switch 15 is moved toward the base and contacts with the same a circuit is completed from battery plate 11, spring 13, base 12 and easing 7 to the lamp and back to the battery plate 10.

' In Fig. 5 a modi ed form is shown. The casing 7 is provide with insu1ation20 to which the base 12 is secured, said base having the switch 15 secured thereto and carrying a contact piece 17 that extends through a perforation in the base for engagement with the spring 13 to cause the same to contact with the metal casing 7. The lamp 9 is fed by the wires 22, 23 that extend through insulation 24 which is provided with a plu to fit an electric socket in the vehicle. fn this the vehicle battery.

What is claimed is 1. A signaling device to be strapped to the I back of the hand, including a casing having a lamp opening, an insulatlng casing within the first mentioned casing, said insulating casing having an opening in its u per surface and an openm in its lower sur ace, battery plates within t e insulating casin each of the battery plates including a lengt of sheet metal material constructed to closely fit within the insulating casing, said plates having inwardly extended spaced parallel members defining ositive and' negative plates of the battery, fibrous packing materlal wet with electrolyte, surrounding the plates 8. lam

supported in the lamp opening an exten ing throu h the opening in the upper surface of. the ins iilatingcasing an'd contactin' with one of the battery plates to receive'e ectnie energy therefrom, a spring member secured to the first mentioned casing and in circuit therewith, and a swltch member extending through the opening in the bottom of the casing for moving the spring member into engagement with a attery plate to complete the circuit to the lamp.

2. A signalin device to be strapped to the I back-of the hand, and including a casing, battery elements within the casing, absorbent material wet with electrolyte surrounding the battery elements, to provide a battery, a lamp supported by the casing and in circuit with a battery element, a switch member within the casing and normally in circuit with one of the battery elements and adapted to move into engagement with one of the battery elethe hand of the user to move the last mentioned switch member towards the casing when the hand is bent.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature.

CHARLES EDWARD HODECKER. 

